Gunfire broke out last night in Pageri, a payam in Eastern Equatoria State along the Juba-Nimule road.

Both the SPLA and the SPLM in Opposition have confirmed the clashes.

Locals who fled to Nimule told Eye Radio that armed men attacked police posts and villages. Government officials have confirmed the incident. The commissioner of Magwi County, Ben Kingston said there were no details.

“This incident happened but we are also waiting to confirm so that we give you the details.”

SPLA spokesman Col Philip Aguer says he has received reports of the attack, but he said the army has no forces in the area.

“Yes it [incident] happened this morning; they attacked Pageri and killed some civilians in the area,” Col Aguer said.

For its part, the SPLM in Opposition has announced that it was involved in the fighting but denied it attacked first. It says the forces were commanded by Major General Martin Kenyi.

The accusation comes a day after the warring parties failed to agree on the contentious issues in the peace process.

These include power sharing, the system of governance, security arrangements and the reintegration forces during the transitional period.